Travel
is an emerging business in Baku. Travel agencies abound but competitiveness
is still low when compared to western European standards. Due to economic
and visa restrictions as well as family and business links, most travel
is done within the CIS countries.

Airline fares to destinations outside the
CIS tend not to be cheap, as the airlines
cater to a large extent to a business clientele. Western tourists are still
a rare sight, as recent history is still in most people's minds and trouble-spots
near the Azeri borders are not good publicity. The Soviet style visa
procedures also tend to keep tourists away, forcing trips to have to be
planned weeks in advance although a new voucher system introduced in April
2003 is supposed to change this.

Often the travel agencies will be of assistance
in arranging Azeri visas, either supplying invitations
to get visas abroad or arranging for visas on arrival in Baku, if you happen
to be a resident of a country without an Azeri embassy.